Machine for measuring and proportioning paints



July- 1944 N. GRUBELIC 2,354,259

MACHINE FOR MEASURING AND PROPORTIONING PAINTS Filed April 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l NW: N

Q N N mi N ' INVENTOR Nz'cgalas firubell'c ATTIOR2EY L July 25, 1944. N. GkuBELlc 2,354,259

MACHINE Pom MEASURING AND PROPORTIONING PAINTS Filed April 14, 1941 s Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR lV/cizolas Grube/z'c BY J AT 0 EY July 25, 1944- N. GRUBELIC MACHINE FOR MEASURING AND PROPORTIONING PAINTS Filed April 14, 1941 ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1944 MACHINE FOR MEASURING AND PROPOR- TIONING PAINTS,

Nicholas Grubelic, Great Neck, N. .Y.

Application April 14, 1941, Serial $10,388,394

18 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for proportioning the quantities of different standard color paints to be, mixed in order to obtain a desired total quantity of a mixed paint.

There has long been a demand for simple and inexpensive'apparatus capable of eliminating the necessity for calculation on the part of one who desires tofollow a paint manufacturers formula in order to obtain a given quantity, usually small, of a paintto match the color of a painted object, such as an automobile or apart thereof. The manufacturers formulae for paints of the de- .Sired color are usually given in terms of various standard color paints and in quantities sufficient to form a total of one quart. In some cases, the formulae also give the required amounts of the ingredients to form a pint. When it is desired, however, to produce total quantities other than a pint or quart, calculation is necessary since it l is obviously impractical on the part of the paint manufacturer to supply tables for all the probable quantities needed on various jobs from the smallest quantity up to one quart or more, because of the many thousands of different matching colors involved.

Apparatus heretofore devised for producing the results above mentioned has been comparatively complicated andconsequently so expensive as to have a limited application or ifsufiiciently cheap, has been inaccurate or incapable of producing the required fractions of the basis unit quantity, which quantity is usually a quart.

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of simple and efficient means capable of easy operation by comparatively unskilled persons, whereby substantially any desired quantity ofmixed paint may be obtained by dispensing from each of a number of containers of standard color paint the exact amount of such paint required in accordance with the ratios giv'en by the manufacturers formula for 'the unit (quart) quantity, there being indicating means to apprise the operator in ample time when the exact quantity of each standard color paint involved has been dispensed- My invention furthei contemplates the provision of a measuring device indicating clearly and with suflicient accuracy for all practical purposes and in sulficient time when the flow of paint is to be cut off to properly proportion each standard color paint in the ratio of the desired total quantity of mixed paint to the unit quantity of the formula.

My invention furthercontemplates the provision of a proportioning lever adapted to have one end thereof'set tothe quantity prescribed by the manufacturer's formula and to have the pivot thereof set to the total quantity desired, whereby the other end of the lever controlsof setting of an indicating device which determinesthe level of standard color paint .to which a suitably proportioned container is to be filled. W Q i My invention further contemplates theprovision of a simple andinexpensiveproportioning machine using few parts, but designedto hold andstir the containers for all needed standard color paints prior to the dispensing of paint therefrom, the parts being conveniently arranged to permit rapid selection, stirring and mounting of the containers and easy and rapid setting of the proportioning members.

Thevarious objectsof the invention will be clear from the description which follows, and from the drawings, in which, i

Fig. 1 is a front view of my improved apparatus, only the upper part of the storage cabinet being shown. I, f I

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. q I I Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line.

- l Fig. 9 is a side elevation of my complete apparatus including the measuring and proportioning machine, the stirring meansfor individual cans or containers of, standard color paint and the storage cabinet for the various standard color paints.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section, similar to Fig. 6, of a modifiedform of the container valve.

, Fig. 11 is an'end view of the same.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same, taken on the line lll1' of Fig. 11.

In the practical embodiment of the invention which I have shown byway of example, and referring particularly to Fig. 9, the storage'cabinet I0 is provided with a series of preferably inclined shelves or racks II, I2 and I3 designed to hold the various cans or containers I4 of standard color paints. In the operation of the machine, the containers I4 of the required standard color paints may be easily selected in succession from the rack in accordance with the formula for any desired mixed color, the containers being successively arranged in position to dispense standard color paint therefrom into a suitable receptacle. w

On the top |5 of thecabinet, is revolubly sup ported the stirrer shaft I6 as by means of the bracket carrying the bearing I8. The crank I9 is secured to the upper end of theshaft. I5

and said shaft is urged normally to its lowermost position by the spring arranged around said shaft and acting against the hollow collar 2| at the lower end of the shaft. A cross pin 22 is carried at the lower end part of the collar and is designed to enter a transverse notch 23 (Fig. 5) at the extreme outer end of the stirrer spindle 24. Suitable blades as 25, 26 are secured to the stirrer spindle and are of such length and width and so spaced apart and in such relative positions that when the screw cap 21 is removed from the container 28, the stirrer blades and spindle may readily be inserted through the discharge opening of the can and into the can with'th'e spindle projecting therefrom.

In the form of the combined valve and paint stirrer shown in Figs. 1, 2, 6, '7, and 8, the open can cap 21 replaces the usual sealing cap of'the paint can and supports the dispensing valve for the standard paint container 28, being provided with a central opening 29 rotatably receiving the r The enlarged head 3| of the valve spindle 30. valve spindle is provided with a fiat face 32 designed to engage the corresponding flat face 33 at the end of the cap 21 to accurately seat thereagainst and thereby normally to cut oil the flow of paint. 34 and 35 are made in the cylindrical body 30 of the valve spindle, the slot 34 being shorter than the slot and terminating a greater distance from the surface 32 and the slot 35 being always in a lowermost position when paint is to be dispensed from the container. The outer end edge 33 of the slot 35 is preferably inclined (Fig. 8), whereby a the spindle 30 is pulled-outwardly and axially away from the cap 21, the outermost corner of the slot 35 is first arrangedin the space 31 between the surfaces 33 and 32 to permit a thin trickle of paint to be discharged from the container through the thus exposed outermost corner at the extreme end part of the slot 35. The stream of paint maybe increased by increasing the space 3'! between the valve surfaces 32 and 33, thereby to expose more ofthe inclined edge 35 and to increase the resultant effective valve opening.

It will be understood that if the space 31 is increasedsuiiiciently, the outer end of the air inlet 34 becomes exposed beyond the surface 33 to permit air to enter the interior of the can 28 and thereby to accelerate the fiow of paint. If a paint container is not opened for some time, evaporation of volatile ingredients within thecan or container is frequently sufficient to cause the accumulation therein of gases under pressure. If what is known as synthetic paint is used, it is desirable that the accumulated gases be retained within the can and not be replaced with air, because air in the can permits the formation of an undesirable skin'or crust. on the paint surface. By making the islot 35 on the valvelarger than the slot 34, it becomes possible to permit the pressure of the gases within the can to become gradually equalized with the outer air without loss of such gases. After the pressure is equalized, the valve may be opened further to admit air and to discharge a paint stream of the desired size and velocity. The surface 32 prevents the undesirable splashing of paint under the pressure of gases within the can and aids in directing the paint stream vertically downward (Fig. 1).

A valve cap 38 is screwed to the end of the spindle 30 and is shaped to provide the space 39 for packing material, whereby the valve cap cooperates with the spindle to form a stulhng box for the stirrer spindle 24.

, Means are provided for insuring that the slot A pair of opposed longitudinal slots 35 is lowermost when paint is to be dispensed from the can or container. Said means includes the wings 40, 4| extending from the spindle head 3| in opposite directions and providing finger pieces by means of which the spindle may be manipulated. The head 3| of the spindle is extended to form a pair of outwardly bevelled cam surfaces 42, 43 respectively adjacent the Wings 40 and 4| and adapted to engage the respective pins 44, 45 to lock the spindle in its closed position (see Fig. '7). Said pins project toward each other from the outstanding respective lugs 46, 41 formed on the'cap'. It will be understood that as the spindle is rotated by means of the wings 40, 4| to force the bevelled surfaces 42, 43 underneath the pins 44, 45, the spindle is forced towards its sealing position with the surfaces 32 and 33 in pressed contact owing to the shape of the cam surfaces 42, 43.

At the sides of the cap 21 are provided projections 48, 49 each terminating in a downwardly andinwardly inclined edge as 50. Said projections are designed to be inserted into the respective grooves 52, 53 in the can holder 54, the outer edge of each of the grooves being inclined in the same direction as the edge 5|! of the projections. Consequently, when said projections are inserted in the grooves, the spindle is in a predetermined position since the position is controlled by the positions of the wings 40, 4| and the positions of the wings are in turn controlled by the earns 42, 43 and pins 44, 45. In order that the valve spindle may be moved outwardly to open the valve, the spindle is first rotated to carry the slot 35 to the lowermost part of the spindle. That is, the spindle must be rotated in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 7 to release the cams 42, 43from the pins 44, 45, the cams being wide enough to prevent axial movement of the spindle until after the required amount of rotational movement is completed, whereafter the spindle may be pulled outwardly to expose as much of the slot 35 as i required to produce a stream of paint of the desired size. To permit the can to be tilted while held in the holder 54, said holder is ,adjustably mounted on the fixed rod 55 secured to the frame 56 of the machine. As shown, the pin 58 projecting from the rod 55 enters the slot 59 of the holder 54 and limits the tilting movement of said holder and the can in either direction;

It will be noted that the cap 21, the valve spindle 30 and the parts connected thereto including the stirrer spindle 24 may be handled as a unit and successively applied to and removed from thevarious paint cans quickly and easily. The usual sealing cap of the can is removed and the entire valve unit and stirrer applied to the standard color .paint can be inserting the stirrer blades andzisp ndle withintthe can and-then screwingz the. ,cap 211; into: place, the spindle be;

ing locked in sealing position by the insertion of theoams 42,43,.underneaththepins 44, 45, by rotation of the-wings: .48, 4 I The ,combined valve andstirrer is-of course cleaned after use in one canand before insertion into a cancontainin apaintof adifferentcolorq...H. 1 The proportioning and measuring deviceis preferably. arranged. on ;-the top I5 of the cabinet so'thatafterthe paint ina selected can has been stirred bymeanspfithecranlr,l9, the can maybe conveniently arran ed intheholder 54 and tilted s i bm nt he-r e tacle5 .1.... The, machine; comprises a paint-level indicator 5!! for, progressively determining the. levels to W oh the receptacle 51, ,is to be filled with the iyaraous standard color. paints, included in the manufacturers formula, and of means for determining the setting of ,the indicator in accordanewiththe total quantity of paint desiredto be mixed in .the receptacle 5,1,- A ,control leverv 6 l is therefore providedfor progressively raising the indicator IBO'rthe required amount to determine actual volume ofeach tandard. color, paint uir'ed ftobe dispensed fro'r'nthe standard, color "s28 successively. H W

intom..si i nead fer ilesp f he pai t viewedinjFigrl, ,the r ght hand end of said lvrfisnraisedor lowered' a biout its preferably jliori'z'ontal [pivot 62 ,to' indicate. the amount; of [standard color paint in thelunit quantity, (quart 32 ouncesfasgivenby the formula. The pivot 2 is also. adj usted, pre;fe1fably' horizontally to in- ,dicatethe' total, quantityiof the, mixed or matchiiig color paint desired and with which the re.- cp't'acle" .51 is to be filled. on the adjustment ofjthfe right' end offthe lever'6|, the left endis a 'itorriatically raisedand raises the, indicator 80 therefiuired distance ,to detern'rine the volume off. paint to bhaddcd to the, receptacle 51 and .the required upp r" level "to; which standard, color pi it; is to e; supplied to the receptacle.

f Preferably'th'erefo're, aseries of receptacles 5.1

ferent markingspf the'fsc'ale 53 indicating desired ,t'otal'f quantities. For example, a receptacle o'flfcomparatively small diameter is used in pro- ;po'rtion'ing total quantities from one quarter of p four ounces) ,.,i a half pint. Arecep- .tflClefoffsomewhatlarg'er'diameter is used for quantities from ahalfipint to one pint, athird larger receptacleffor quantities from one pint to" one quart and the largest receptacle vfrom quantities of one quart to two ,quarts, The heights of the difierent receptacles '51 ma .reai constant, but ,the cross-sectionalTareas thereof vary. I have found that four. receptacles are sufficient to cov' total quantities desired {within'practicallirmts' a j I The paint-level" indic ,tor .60'1is ma in t e form of "a plate or sheet having an inclined lower- 'most edge 64 (see Figs. a enas) ,anfd'having'an indicating mark 65 there'onfmeieting saidlower-,

most edge at about the middle point 66 of the edge. It the positionof' the indicator is temporarily fixed, liquid may be poured into the receptacle until the level'jtl iereofjis at the point 66, thereby indicating'ithataddition of liquid must be stopped. At this time, the'lowe'r half of the edge 64 is covered; Thegra'dual submersion of said half of the edge 64 'givesthe operator ample timetocutoff thesupply str'eam.j..'At the start of the v mixing ,operatioh, a" smal quantity. of

p vided to seletiilelycooperate with the diftacle. sufiicient tocover thewbottom thereof toi:-.a depthgslightly greater than'theheight of the edge. ,Then the indicator may be loweredinto the liquid until the liquid reaches ,the mark .66, as shown in Fig.. 5. The operation of prop rtion,- ing standard color paint in accordance with, the formula may then proceed.

The indicator 60 is mounted onthe -rod '68 terminating at its upper end in the threaded portion 69 pn which is mounted the adjusting nut-10.

Said rod is supported for vertical reciprocation in the bracket ll (Fig. 2) projectingfromthe frame 56 0f the machine, while theportionfifi. thereof passes through the arm 12 projecting from the slide 13. Said slide is mounted on the fixed guide 14 secured to the machine frame and is normally pulled by the spring 15 downwardl to cause the roller 15 carried thereby toengagethe upper edge'l'l of theylever 6L, By means of the nut 10, the indicator 60 may be-manually-raised from or lowered into its initialposition shown in Fig. 5 preparatory to'commencing the proportioning of paint. In order that the indicator may be easily inserted into the receptacle, the threaded portion 69 passes loosely through the arm 12, whereby the entire rod may readily be lifted relatively to the arm and to the slide, 13 to permit the receptacle 51 to be arranged in position .on the cabinet top l5, Whereafter the rod is released to insert the indicator into the receptacle.

As shown in Fig. 4, the pivot for the lever 6| consists of the set screw 18 passing through the projection 1-9 on the upper edge" of 'the lever and screwed into the slide 80 slidably mounted'on the fixed guide 81. The slide 8|! also carries the pointer 82 in alignment with the axis ofthe' set screw I8 andoperating in connection with'the total quantity scale 63. By tightening the set screw, the pivot is secured against any movement though'the lever may rotate about'the pivot. By looseningthe set screw, the slide'andconse- .quentlythe pivot for the lever may be so arranged as to cause the indicator 60 "toindica'te such progressive quantities of standard color paint as will finally produce the total' quantity desired as indicated by the -scale 63. 'In other words, the. pointer82 is set on thescale 6 3 for the desired total quantity whether'it be" four is effected by rotating the handle 9|;

the movement of the pivot adjusting the distance between the roller 16 andthe'pivot oftheleve'r 6| and thereby controlling the length 'of-the'left arm of the lever and correspondingly increasing the length of the-right arm of the lever to the rightof the pivot. Sai'diright arm of the lever is pulled by the spring 83' up against the roller 84 carried by the slide 85. :Said-slide is internal- 1y threaded and is mounted and moves upon the screw 86; which is fixedly mounted at its ends-in the bearings 81, 88. The pointer 89'on the slide .85 cooperates with the scale 90 'to indicate the quantity of the standard color paint given by .the manufacturers formula. Rotation of the screw 86-and consequent movement of the slide handle ismounted'at oneend of the shaft'ezfca'rried-bythe bearings 93, 94 and also carrying the bevel gear 95 at its other end. The gear 95 pointer 99 on the bearing 88, to'indicate fractions Said I of a. division on the main scale. Fo r example, the mainscale 90: may be graduated-to indicate ounces in the manufacturers formula and the micrometer'scale 98 may accordingly be graduated to indicate a e ounces.

It will therefore be noted that while one end of the lever BI is set to indicate quantities of standard color paint ingredients in'accordance with the manufacturers formula, the other end of the lever sets the indicator 60 above the bottom of the receptacle 5'! a corresponding amount to indicate the level up to which standard color paint is to be inserted into the receptacle in accordance with the setting of the pivot 62 on the scale 63- for the total quantity of mixed paint to'be compounded and thereby to proportion the amount of standard color paint to be dispensed from the various containers 28 in the required ratio and without any calculation.

The manufacturers fqrmula may give the quantities for a certain grey color to be as follows:

- Amounts of Scale each color setting Ounces Suppose now it is required to make two quarts of the desired grey, first, the proper receptacle 10 is then released permitting the indicator to drop into the receptacle. The pivot 62 is now set by moving the pointer,82,to indicate two quarts on the scale 63 and the screw 18 is tightened. The crank 9| is then manipulated to set the pointer 89 atzero on the scale 90 .and to set the pointer 99 to zero on the micrometer scale 98. Finally, the nut 10 is adjusted to carry them- ,dicator 60 close to or in contact with the bottom of the receptacle 5! and sufficient thinner is pouredinto the receptacle to the mark 66, and theindicator again adjusted if necessary.

The machine has now been conditioned ready for operation. To operate the machine, the can 28 of white is selected fromits rack, its'cap is removed and replacedby the cap 21 and the combined valve and stirrer carried thereby, while at the same time, the stirrer blades 25, 26 are inserted into the can. The wings 40, 4| are rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 7, if necessary to close the valve, and the can is arranged in the vertical position on the upper other for a few :turns stirs the paint and condiinterceptor or by closing the valve tions it to be dispensed. The crank I9 is now lifted to release the can, and the can is placed in its holder 54 by entering the inclined projectlons 48, 49 thereof in the grooves 52, 53. The can cannot be placed upside-down in the holder because of the inclined edges of the projections and; grooves, but -must necessarily be placed therein sothat when the valveis opened, the slot 35 will be at the bottom; The handle 9| is now rotated to rotate the lead screw and'thereby' to arrange the pointer 89 to the point [2 on the scale 99. Rotation of the handle is now continued slowly until the pointer 99 indlcates'fi ounces (Fig. 1). The scale having been set, the valve spindle may now be pulled away from its seat 33, a small amount suflicient to expose part only of the inclined end'36 of the slot 35. The pressure of gases within the can causes the paint to flow out of the comparatively small opening comparatively readily even if no air enters the can through the air inlet 34. This continues until the gas pressure within the can is equalized with atmospheric pressure while no air is admitted. When the operator sees that the velocity of the paint stream is decreasing, the valve spindle may be pulled out a little further to in crease the size of the discharge opening, and

ultimately when the pressure is completely equalized, to expose part of the air inlet slot 39 for the entrance of air. By this arrangement of slots, it will be noted that the volatile ingredients are not replaced with air, but are re,- tained within the can to be mixed with the additional'amount of air necessary to permit easy flow of the paint therefrom at the required time.

When the pressure is so equalized, the valve spindle may be pulled out to a larger extent since afairly large amount of white is required. It will be understood that by setting the pointer 89 on the scale 90, the lever 6| is rotated about its lower corner of the indicator 60, prepares himself to cut on the stream either by'fmeans of an just before the paint level reaches the mark 65. Because of the inclination of the edge 64, the operator sees the gradual covering of the lower part of said edge and is prepared and has sufiicient time to close the valve at the required moment to obtain the exact desired level of paint in the receptacle. I

The next color to be dispensed is black. The operator removes the white can and replaces with the black can with a different stirrer and valve, or washingofi the one previously used for the white can. He stirs the contents of the black can and, arranges it in place in the holder-54 and operates the handle 9| to the next. scale setting, namely,. 22 This figure is obtained by adding the amount of black required, namely, 10 /2 ounces to the amount of white already dispensed, namely, 12 ounces. However, the operator need perform, no addition since-the formula shows the added quantity in the column scale setting. The pointers 89 and 99 are therefore set to 22 on the scales 90 and 98. Before proceeding to dispense the paint from the black canythe rod 69 is lifted and the bottom of, the indicator wiped off to clean it of white paint. The rod it then released to its proper position withinthe receptacle as determined. by;the.- positionof the left end of the lever 6|. The operator sates-Q proceeds as before'to dispensethe black paint until it reaches the mark 66 "of the paint-level indicator, i The same operation is repeated withthe of yellow; the pointers- 89" and 99 beingiset'lto indicate 27 and thereby dispensing'an amount of yellow paint proportioned to the totalde's'iredj quantity and to the manufacturerst formula of 4% ounces.

-'Finally, the operation is repeated with the blue can, the setting ofthe scale 90 nowbeing exactly 32 ounces or a full quart, but the'total; amount dispensed into the-receptaclefi'l being the settiagofthe two quarts in accordancefwith' pivot 62 on the scale 63.-

Referring to'Figs. 10-'-1 2,' I have there shown a combined stirrer and valve wherein the valve part is somewhat easier to operate than the-valve hereinbefore described, though the advantages are retained. In this form of Valve, the valve carrying can cap 21a is provided with an arcuate' air inlet opening 34a and witha longer opposed paint discharge opening 35a having an inclined or non-radialend edge 36a. The stirrer "shaft 24a passes through the central threaded exten sion of the cap as well as through the nut 38' i;

which is screwed on 'to the'threaded extension to form the stuffing box 39a} Aspring Hill around the extension presses the rotary valve cover 101' against the cap, normally to'm'aintain' the valve openings closed. The cover I01 is rotated lay-the handle I02 projecting therefrom first to "ex ose apart of the inclined edge 36a and to permit the discharge of a thin trickle of paint,;and theri 'to expose the air inlet and enough'o'f' the'dis'char'geend of the leverto positions in accordance with a'formula forthe mixed paint based on a difier ent total quantity than the desired'total quantity. -2.- Ina machine" ofi thecharacter described, a frame, a vertically movable paint-level indicator slidably mounted on; the frame, a lever having an operative connection ,'with"the indicator, a pivot for the lev'ern'iovablefalong the lever, a

a substantially horizontal guide on the frame for opening to dispense the desired amount oi paint without waste of time. i

A bevelled extension I03 on the cover directs the paint stream downwardly and guardsagain's't splashing against the walls of the receptacles under" excessive gas pressurewithin the can.

Such splashed paintwhen it flows into the rest of the paint in the receptacle might not affect the indicator in time to be measured and might cause a variation in measurement'and color. It will'be seen that the apparatus above de scribed is comparatively simple and inexpensive,

but eflicientand sufficiently accurate for practical mixing of quantities of pa'int'from four ouncesto two quarts and requires little skillon the part" of the operator and no calculation on his part.

It will further be seen that Ihave'provided a machine well adapted to meet'the severerequirements of practical use.

While I have shown and described a certain specific embodiment of my inventiomit will'be understood that a number of changes maybe made in the operating part's'thereof or the connections therefor without departing from the" as' set forth in 60 spirit and scope of my invention the appended claims.

I claim:

1 In a machine for proportioning the standard color paint ingredients of a .desiredrmixeclpaint, a receptacle forthe mixed paint, an indicator insertable .intoand removable from the receptacle, and. means for moving the indicator'vertically to determine the required level; of each of the standardcolor paint ingredients: to be sup-:

plied to the receptacle, said meansoomprisinga lever, apivot for the lever and adjustable theremeans for indicatingthepositionof the pivot, a 1 second indicating,meansnoneparallel .to the first;

indicating means for indicating the posit1onof along to indicate the total desired quantity of-; paints to be supplied to the ,receptacle,-;;means operatively connecting the indicator to one end,

of the lever, and'means for adjusting the other the pivot, a' total uantitys'cale indicating the position'of the pivot, a screw revolubly mounted on the frame, arnemb'er' slida bly mounted on the screw and having an operativeconnection with the lever, a scale "for the member, a m crome er scale on the screw and means *for rotatin the screw toset'thei'n mber' and thereby to setthe;

lever and 'th eiridiaton'j 35in a machine for propo ard colo'r'paint ingredientsoi A paint, a vertically movableindicator, a leverfcoin trolling the height of the indicator, a pivot for the lever and'iadjustable therealong; the indicatorb'eing arrangedlfonzone side of the pivot, and means to rogressively moving thatpartof the 'levero'n the "other side of the pivotfor sefl the stand-f lcted distances and therebyraising the indicator difiere'nt but correspondingly proportionate dis} tances. I j

' LIn' a machine forprop connection with the indicator, a p ot for the h i f d ad u t le. ihe na, a-iQfi'aLmi ed paint quantity scalei'ndicating'theposition of the pivo tyanda standar color' scale. spaced} f 10m the indicator andjthef pivot adjacent the ,member to determine the setting of the member in accordance withaf ormula ior a quantity of mixed paint other than said total. quantity.

'- '5. In a machine for proportioning in' succes-- si'on paints of standard colors'to make a total quantity of mixed paint'in accordancewith a for-' mula for a different total uantity of such mixed paint, a paint level -indicator; 'and means .for set:

ting the indicator in advance of delivery of paint 1' from a' standardcolor container and to indicate I the level to which "standard. color paint is tob'e supplied to a receptaclasaid means comprising a scale for the desired total quantity of mixed paint, asfecond scale for the quantity of standard longitudinally of the lever, a first indicating one end-of .the-levenanda paint-level indicator at the other end of the lever na ac ne Qith ch m r e r b 1 lever, a pivot for the lever adjustable therealong,

desired mixed;

r or ioning the stan d ard colorjjp'aint' ingredientsbf'a desired mixed paint; a paint'-level"indicator; and proportioning meansfior setting the"indica tor',',said means com-1 prising a pivoted member havin'g lanj operative" means for indicating the position of the pivot, means for indicatingthe position ot that part of the lever on one. side of the pivot, apaintlevel indicator on the other side of the pivot and having an operative connection with the lever and guide means for the. indicator constraining the indicator tomove in averticalpath.

8. In amachine.ofgthecharacter described, a paint-level indicator, means constraining. the indicator to move inavertical path, a lever having a pivot adjustable. alongthe lever, a total-quantity scaleindicating the position of the pivot, an operative connection between. the lever and the indicator, and a second .scale indicating the position ofa partof the lever spaced from the indicator and the pivot whereby movement of said lever part through selected distances along said second scale causesmovementof the indicator through proportionate, vertical distances, the

ratiosv of said selected distances to the vertical distances being fixed'for any given position of the pivot of the total-quantity scale.

9. Ina machine of the .character described, a vertically movable paint-level indicator, means for adjusting. the. indicator to indicate a selected initial level, a total quantity scale, a standard color paint scalefbasefd on. different total quantities than those indicated by the total-quantityscale, a member having an operative connection with the indicator and..extending between the scales, and means for setting spaced points of the member respectively at selected points of said scales and thereby to determine the effective height of the indicator.

10. In a machine of the character described, a paint-level indicator having; an inclined lower edge adaptedv to-have the lowermost part thereof in contact with the uppermost part of the paint in a receptacle to. indicatethe level of said paint, and means including a pair of scales for setting the indicator in accordance-withthe ratio of the quantity of standard colorpaint desired to the amount of standard color paint in a formula, one of the scalesv being arranged to extend in. one direction,.the other of the scales. extending in a different direction, said means further including an elongated member between the. scales, an operativev connection between the elongated. member and the. indicator, and means i 11. In a machine. of the, character described, a.

vertically movable paint-level. indicator, means for moving said indicator upwardly a distance.

dependent ontheamount of standard. color paint in a formula and the total quantity of a mixed paint desired of which, the standard color paint is an ingredient, said indicator moving means including a member extending between the scales hereinafter mentioned and having an operative connection with the indicator,. said. indicator moving means also including'mechanism to set the member with respect to selected points ofsaid scales respectively, and means for indicating the" amount of movement of the indicatormoving means including a pair of fixed scales, one of said scales indicating total quantities desired in volume unitsand fractions thereof and the other indicating thequantity of standard color paint insa-id formula in fractions of one of said volume units. I

12. In a machine of the character described, a vertically movable paint-level indicator terminating at its lower end in an inclined edge adapted.

weave to have part thereof dip into the paint in-a receptacle, spring-pulled means movably supporting the indicator to permit the indicator to be raised outof the receptacle and lowered thereinto, means having an operative connection to the indicator for adjusting the effective height of the indicator with respect to a selected initial level, and means for further adjusting the indicator upwardly to a position to indicate the level of paint to be inserted into the receptacle, said means including a lever having a pivot adjustablealong the lever, an operative connection between; the lever and the indicator, and indicating means for indicating. the position of the pivot and the setting of the-lever.

,13. In a machine of the character described, a lever, a pivot carried by the lever and comprising a set screw, a slide carrying the set screw and adapted to be clamped in position, a guide for screw, a second scale for the second slide, a

paint-level indicator at a point on the lever remote from the screw, a roller on the indicator, a second roller on the second slide, both of said rollers being arranged to engage the upper edge of the lever, said'lever being spring-pulled against the second roller, and a spring urging the indicator roller against the upper edge of the lever.

14. In a machine of the character described, a lever, a pivot for the lever includinga slide secured to the lever and movable therewith, a total quantitvscale for the slide, a lead screw adjacent one end of the lever, a second slide-mounted for movement'on the screw on the rotation of the screw, a standard color paint scale adjacent the second slide, a paint-level indicator adjacent the other end of the lever, an operative connection between the indicator and the lever, and an operative connection between the second slide and the lever. I

15. In a machine for proportioning in succession paints of standard colors to make a total quantity of mixed paint in accordance with the formula for a different total quantity of such mixed paint, a receptacle for the mixed paint, means for indicating the, relative amount of standard color paint to..be dispensed from a selected container into the receptacle including a vertically movable paint-level indicator, a first scale to indicate the amount of. standard color paint in the formula and a second scale to indicate fractions'and different ,units of the total quantity of paint. desired, and means for vertically and progressively moving the indicator adistance bearing the same ratio to the amount of standard color paint in. the formula as the total quantity of mixed paint desired bears to said different total quantity of mixed paint of the formula, saidlast mentioned means includingan element having an operative connection with the indicator, means for fixing one point of the element at a selected point of the second scale corresponding tothe total quantity of mixed paint desired, and means for positioning a differ ent point of the element progressively at selected 'points of the first scale.

level indicator slidably mounted on the frame for vertical movement relatively thereto, a totalquantity scale on the frame spaced from the indicator and indicating units and fractions thereof, a standard color scale on the frame spaced from the indicator and from the total-quantity scale, an indicator-control member extending between the scales and having an operative connection with the indicator to set the indicator, means for fixing a point of said member relatively to a selected point of the total-quantity scale and means for moving a diiferent point of said member progressively along the standard color scale thereby to progressively raise the indicator distances proportionate to the distances which said different point of the member is moved along the standard color scale.

1'7. In a machine of the character described, a receptacle, a paint-level indicator, means for supporting the receptacle and for slidably supporting the indicator for vertical movement into and out of the receptacle, means carried by the supporting means for adjusting the height of the indicator with respect to the receptacle including an element having an operative connection with the indicator, a total-quantity scale for determining the position of a selected point of the element, a standard color scale for determining the position of a different point of the element and means carried by the support and having an operative connection with the element for moving said different point.

18. In a machine of the character described, a paint-level indicator adapted to contact with the upper part of the paint in a receptacle to indicate the level of said paint, and means for setting the indicator in advance of the insertion of paint into the receptacle to indicate the required level of said paint and thereby to indicate that volume of paint to be inserted into the receptacle bearing the same ratio to the total quantity of paint desired as the amount of standard color paint given in a formula bears to the total quantity of mixed paint given by said formula, said means including a lever, an operative connection between one end of the lever and the indicator, means for moving the other end of the lever, and indicating means indicating the position of said other end of the lever and thereby indicating the setting of the indicator.

NICHOLAS GRUBELIC. 

